Surprise! Joe Blanton to the DL

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For the National League East leading Phillies, the hits just keep on coming, as news came down Thursday that pitcher Joe Blanton (the fifth man on a rotation of FOUR aces) is heading to the disabled list with an injury to his right elbow.

Just got word from the Phillies that righthander Joe Blanton has been placed on the disabled list with what the team is calling a medial impingement of the right (throwing) elbow. No immediate indication on the severity of the injury, but righthander Vance Worley has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start against the Mets tomorrow night.

Fortunately, Worley is a more than capable replacement. He made his big league season debut last season and spent time as a starter and a reliever, finishing the year with a 1-1 record with 12 strikeouts and a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings pitched. At Triple A Lehigh Valley this season, he's 2-2 with an ERA of 2.78 in 22 2/3 innings, over which he's struck out 25 and walked six.